Inle Pancake Kingdom

Shwezigon Pagoda was built as a center of prayer and reflection for the new Theravada faith King Anawarahta had established in Bagan. It was begun by King Anawrahta in 1076 but not completed until the reign of King Kyanzittha (1084-1113). The Shwezigon is one of the most important pagodas in Burma as it is believed to contain the Buddha’s collar bone, his ‘frontlet’ bone and one of his teeth.

The Shwezigon Pagoda is about 500m from Nyaung-U. It is the main center of pilgrimage in Bagan. Legend tells us that a sacred relic of the Buddha was put on the back of a white elephant by the king. The Shwezigon marks the spot where the elephant knelt down. It was repaired over the years by several kings but never very much altered – although pilgrims’ donations have funded many additions to the temple platform. It is also the first major monument built in Burmese, rather than the earlier Mon style, and the first pagoda to have nat images allowed within its precincts. The Shwezigon was a prototype for many later Burmese stupas.